NEED FOR UNITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23708, 15 July 1940, Page 9

NEED FOR UNITY

WAR RESPONSIBILITIES AID FOR GREAT BRITAIN MILITARY OBLIGATIONS MET The extent of New Zealand's contribution to the war effort was tho subject of a .statement by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Eraser, in a broadcast address last night. He said the Government was in daily communication with the United Kingdom Government and up to Ihe present more units had been provided than could be placed in service at the moment. Whatever could bo done to the limit of the Dominion's resources would be done to help the Mother Country and to defend her own shores. The Prime Minister stated that the British people were in no way daunted and they were facing the gravest crisis in their long and glorious history with the same courage that they had faced and overcome similar threats in the past. Now Zcalanders were proud that their own soldiers, together with other

men from all parts of the Commonwealth, had ranged themselves alongside their British kinsmen in the defence of the Homeland.

The Navy Still Supreme Describing the deeds and preparations of all branches of the armed forces in tho United Kingdom, Mr. Frasor said the British Navy was still supreme. Had the French Xavv fallen into enemy hands the peril of the whole Empire would have become very great. As it was, the balance of sea power remained heavily in Britain's favour. Pleading for a unified effort, Mr. Frasor declared that the time had come to put many old conflicts and differences to one side. Any divisions weakened the nation's effort and served only the purpose of the enemy. It was entirely wrong, for instance, that at a time when our very existence was threatened and unity was so necessary that any section of the community should be singled out for attack by any other sections or by individuals or newspapers. Greater Production Required There were urgent reasons why the people of the Dominion should work harder and produce more, he added. There was the Expeditionary Force to be equipped and maintained, and there was a pledge to provide Great Britain with food and raw materials of the kinds she wanted that were in the Dominion's power to produce.

Many of the essential needs of New Zealand which were previously imported had now to be produced within the country, and the loss to industry of men who were enlisting had to be made good. Schemes for training male and female workers were being organised.